Lufi vs Updog
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted file sync & storage options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Lufi | Updog |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | File Sync & Storage | File Sync & Storage |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Perl | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 300 | ★ 3,412 |
| First released | 2015 | 2019 |
| Replaces | WeTransfer, Firefox Send | WeTransfer |
What are Lufi and Updog?
Lufi
Lufi is a file hosting application where files are encrypted in the browser before being uploaded, so the server never sees their contents. Files can be set to delete after a chosen expiration period.
- Client-side encryption
- Automatic file expiration
- Part of the Framasoft suite
Updog
Updog is a small Python utility that improves upon SimpleHTTPServer by adding upload capability, HTTPS, and optional password protection. It is useful for quick file transfers.
- Upload support over HTTP
- Optional HTTPS and auth
- Simple drop-in replacement
Lufi vs Updog: key differences
Lufi is written in Perl, while Updog is built with Python. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Lufi versus MIT for Updog. Updog is the lighter option, starting around 32 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Lufi. Lufi is the more established project (first released 2015), while Updog arrived in 2019. Updog has the considerably larger community, at 3,412 GitHub stars versus 300. Lufi lists first-class Docker deployment; Updog does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Lufi if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Perl
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Choose Updog if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (3.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is Lufi or Updog better?
Updog is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Lufi if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Lufi and Updog free and open-source?
Yes. Lufi is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Updog under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Lufi and Updog with Docker?
Lufi: yes. Updog: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Lufi or Updog?
Updog has the smaller minimum footprint at 32 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Lufi. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.